A hundred years ago From the 'Spectator', 19 February 1870 — The
Lords are sighing for work. The Government, taught by the fate of the Scotch Education Bill of last year, which was introduced first in the Lords, and consequently cut to ribbons, has sent most of its important Bills this year to the Commons first, thinking, perhaps, that 'light from below' would enable the Peers to see their merits more clearly. Consequently, the Lords have nothing to do, and fear they will have too much to do by and by. Lord Salisbury is greatly hurt by the practice, and Lord Car- narvon said it would soon be the duty of the House to refuse all late Bills, no matter how important; but what is the Government to do, unless indeed it reforms the House? If it intro- duces Bills in the Upper House first, they are spoilt; if it introduces them first in the Commons, they go up late, and are, so to speak, forced through the Lords by the official quorum. The real remedy is such a conversion of Peers to sound principles as would bring them into harmony with the Commons; but then if they were in harmony, where would be the use of two harmonious bodies? The logical position of a Second Chamber is to be either a surplusage or an obstacle.
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